Continuous glucose monitoring devices - which continually monitor blood glucose levels through sensors placed under the skin, linked to hand-held devices such as mobile phones or insulin pumps - are very effective in minimising these risks.

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Mr Shorten has received a number of requests at town hall meetings he's held across the country for the devices to be made more widely available.

"We urge you to act and make these devices available for Australians who need it," he says in the letter to Mr Turnbull.

It's estimated there are 1.2 million Australians with known diabetes and more than two million are at high risk of developing it.

Diabetes Australia is advocating the next stage of the GCM devices rollout cover adults with type 1 diabetes experiencing "recurrent severe hypos or impaired awareness of hypos, or significant fear of hypos".

As well it should be made available to women with type 1 diabetes using insulin while planning for a pregnancy and during pregnancy, due to the adverse effect that high and low glucose levels can have on the unborn child.